Natalia Mazzia

Landscape and Rocks in the East-Central Portion of the Tandilia Range (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)

Abstract The east-central Tandilia Range (Pampean region, Argentina) witnessed recurrent human occupations during the final Pleistocene and early Holocene. Here we introduce an updated synthesis about material culture and landscape studies based on eight archaeological sites. The lithic technology of the early groups that inhabited the micro-region includes a highly selective acquisition of rocks and their transport from different sources, sometimes from very long distances. There is significant inter-assemblage variability among sites; within this diverse context, the assemblage at Cerro El Sombrero is exceptional, including infrequent artifacts and a large number of Fishtail projectile points. Our findings indicate people with a deep knowledge of their environment, their stones, and geographic features, some of which had distinctive uses and meanings. We consider that this network of ideas, places, and objects suggests that people in the micro-region were deeply engaged with their surroundings by the Pleistocene–Holocene transition.

Miniature points in an exceptional early South American context

Abstract Miniature points, similar to full-sized types used as hunting weapons, have occasionally been described in North and South America for Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene hunter-gatherer societies. They are explained as toys, practice pieces or ceremonial objects. They are an interesting case to use to reflect on how people materialize abstractions, encode visual communication and develop special practices related to particular places. Here we present six miniature points found at Cerro El Sombrero Cima (Buenos Aires province, Argentina), an early site with an unusual assemblage. Five specimens are fishtail projectile points and the sixth is an undescribed stemmed type. We use relevant theoretical insights and address point life histories according to their techno-morphological characteristics, raw material identification and fatty acids and sterols analyses. Finally, these projectile-point miniatures are considered in the context of discard, and their role among early American hunter-gatherers is addressed.

Morar en las Lagunas: Lugares de Cazadores Recolectores en la Pampa Bonaerense (Argentina)

El paisaje de los cazadores recolectores resulta un aspecto complejo para estudiar desde la arqueologia. En este trabajo se utiliza la nocion de lugar arqueologico para abordar la problematica. Su caracterizacion es posible mediante la integracion de diferentes lineas de evidencias que incluyen objetos, espacios y cuerpos. Se analizan las ocupaciones humanas ocurridas durante el Holoceno en la cercania de las lagunas pampeanas bonaerenses al sur del rio Salado (Argentina), con especial enfasis en aquellas descriptas para la localidad arqueologica El Guanaco. A partir de la revision de distintos ejemplos se propone que los entornos lagunares han sido visitados y habitados, en muchos casos de forma recurrente, a lo largo del Holoceno. La eleccion de estos espacios involucro, por ejemplo, la planificacion de la obtencion y el traslado de las materias primas liticas, un escaso aprovechamiento de recursos lacustres y, en ciertos casos, el desarrollo de practicas mortuorias particulares. Las fuentes de agua, por su importancia vital y simbolica, resultan ineludibles en los caminos de los cazadores recolectores. Las aguas quietas de las lagunas pueden relacionarse con momentos de pausa y esta con los lugares. Por ello, los entornos lagunares representan lugares en la vida de los grupos de cazadores recolectores, quienes, como parte de sus recorridos, volvieron una y otra vez a sus orillas.

GIS and Landscape Archaeology: A Case of Study in the Argentine Pampas

The aim of this paper is to present GIS methodology applied to a landscape archaeological research of hunter-gatherer societies in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Some theoretical remarks about space representations are mentioned; and Argentine archaeological cases using GIS approaches are briefly cited.The research strategy followed in our landscape archaeology study is detailed and the materials are described.We highlight the importance of GIS tools for the different steps of the research process: for the preparation of fieldwork, for laboratory questions and resolution of problems and for the presentation of results.